I mean

idiom

informal
1
used to emphasize a statement
He has to stop drinking. I mean, he's going to kill himself if he keeps it up.
He throws, I mean, really hard!
2
used to correct a previous statement
We met in Toronto—I mean Montreal.
3
used when one is unsure of what to say or how to say it
I'm not mad. It's just that, I mean, I think you've been acting a little selfishly.

Dictionary Entries Near I mean

Cite this Entry

“I mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/I%20mean. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!